Haitians protest as deportation looms

Protests erupt in the Dominican Republic over the possible deportation of undocumented migrants workers, most of whom are from neighboring Haiti. Vanessa Johnston reports.

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Protesters on the streets of Santo Domingo chant "give me my papers"....
As the Dominican government threatens to begin deporting undocumented workers, most of them of Haitian descent.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNIDENTIFIED SUGAR CANE WORKER, SAYING:
"It is an abuse, the threat to deport them, because their family is here, raised here and they are Dominicans, because they were born here. What we want is protection for them."
Dominican President Danilo Medina has said there will be no mass deportations -- yet undocumented migrants who failed to register with the government COULD be deported within 48 hours.
On the other hand, those who met Wednesday's deadline were put on track for a possible two year temporary migrant status.
But for these protesters that's not enough.
Human rights groups say the new law is rooted in racism and xenophobia against darker-skinned Haitians.
But even so... they say THIS is now home.

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